Heddle frame



. R. P; RAKE 7 2,445,107 7 HEDDLE FRAME 'Original Filed-Dec} 15, 1945 v 2 Sheeis-Shet 1 I Y INVENTOR f Russell P Drake ATTORNEYS July 13,1948." bfi 2,445,107

HEDDLE FRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 15', 1943 Hi m |NVEN TOR Russell P Drake ATTORNEYS porting Thus, it'comprises top an'dbottom side rails Ill suitably secured to the rails.

Patented July 13, 1948 A E T OFFICE v nn nllri ram Russel 1 P. Drake,

Barber-Colman Company,

poration of Illinois Caledonia, 111.,- assignor to Rockford, 111., a cor- Continuation .of application Serial No. 514,313, December 15, 19513. This application May 371,

1946, Serial No. 673,240

14 Claims. (01. 13992) This invention pertainsto animproved heddle r supporting'frame, and itsgeneral aim is to facilitate the removal and replacement of heddles relative-to-the frame. 1

For a more specific'object, the 'invention aims in threading heddlesonto the bars or-in removing them from the bars. I

Theobjects of the invention thus generally stated, together'with other and ancillary advantages, are attained by the construction and arrangement shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a face view of a heddle frame embodying the features of the invention and showing-the preferred construction.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the heddle frame withfportions- 'thereof broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlargedfragmentary jface viewof the portion shown in- Fig. '2.--

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary s'ectionalview taken on the line 4-4 of Fig.3;

Fig. 5 is aface view of a modified form of heddle Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the heddle frame shown in Fig. 5.

' Fig. 7 is a .fragmentary'sectio-nal view taken on the line 'l-'! of Fig.6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6. A

The heddle'f'rame apart from the means is of" conventional construction.

and H, preferably of'woodyan'd end-members 12,

each comprising a pair of generally Ues'haped straps I3and I 3 having yoke prtions weldedtogether and providing parallel end portions I4 spaced apart to receive between" them the ends of the rails lfl'and H, such 'end portions being The'present invention concerns the" mounting Within theframe v-of'apair of heddle supporting bars I so as to permit-iof.-' detachment of the "ends of the'barsfrom the frame andthe shifting of the bars into a position suchas to permit easy removal of" the heddles'fromthe frame-:and th'e 'tion, thefree end of the oi -permit loading or removal of theheddles 2 f I: i replacement thereof. In general, each off-the supporting bars I5 is releasably secured at its opposite ends upon the end members I2 bymeans of latch devices [6, and each is supported intermediate its ends from the adjacent rail 10 on of the frame by means of one or more anchoring devices I]. Y

' In the preferred embodiment of the invention,

the heddle supporting frame is designed for'use with heddles l8 having hooks l9 at oppositeoends. Accordingly, the heddle supporting bars l5 are generally channel shaped in cross section, with one leg forming a narrow wall or heddle flange 28 with a free edge portio -exposed for engagement by the heddle hooks I9 and the other "leg 2i extended to form a relatively wide anchoring me her connected to the adjacent'sidev rail ID or H by means of the anchoring devices I1, two

such devices being herein employed in the case of eachrail. Referring now to the embodiment of the. invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, each of the latch devices It comprises a leaf spring 22fastened to the inner side of one of the end members -l 2. The leaf spring is normally inclined relative to the end member 'and'carriesatits free end a detent element 23' in the form of: a finger projecting through a' notch 24 in the bottom'of-thechannel member; as best shown. in

Figs; 3 and 4 into the recess or. space formed by the channel. The detent element is dimensioned to'fit snugly between the legs 20 and 2| of the bar, thereby holding the end of the 'bar against lateral movement relative to the frame;- When it is desired to release the bar for shifting movement, the detent is shifted manuallyl'a short distance inwardly or away fromthe end member I2'into alinement with a'slot 25 merging or opening at one en'dinto the notch. .LMovement of the detent element into such position permits of movement of the supportingbar laterally into a position indicated at a in Figs; 2 and 4, at one side of the frame. It will be observed that'when the bar is thus shifted the detent?- is released from the bar-so that the spring-22;may be pressed against the frame member l2 to position the detent between said member and the end of the bar which is spaced a short distance from said end memberpas shown in Fig. 3. i

I With the detent held manually in position against the end member, the supporting bar. may

be shifted reversely to a position designated b on the opposite side of the frame. In this posibar is exposed so as. to

against accidental movement. "the upperend of the leaf spring 29 is "bent over to project through-an opening in the slidebolt '21 and is extended to form a U-shaped'membe'r 3! engageable with one edge portion ofthe end -member I2, the spring being biased in a direction "to-move the bolt inwardlyandalso to move the An important feature of my invention resides in the utilization of the latch device for holding the heddle supporting bar in such heddle loading position b. For this purpose, the leaf spring 22 is provided with a latch element 26, herein in the form ofa second finger somewhat longer than the detent element 23. When the bar is shifted into its heddle loading position b the leaf spring 22 is released by the operator so as to permit movement of the latch element 26 into position behind the anchoring leg 2| of the bar, this being the normalposition of the latchdevice. It is-to be observed that because the latch element'ZB engages the outer face of the anchoring leg of the bar the heddles are free. to .slide. alongthe Moreover, since heddle flange of the bar. the bar is held in this position, while under stress, it is held firmly by the resiliency of the bar so that the operation of removing heddles from: the bar or replacing them? thereon is greatly facili- :tated.

In theembodiment of the inventionshown in Figs. 5;.to 8, latchdevices iii are employed. In thisinstance, each device comprises a 'detent member in the natureof a slide bolt 21 mounted -for sliding movement transversely of the end members I2 and engageable in an end opening recess formed by the channel of the supporting bar to hold'thelatter in normal position. i For a reason which will presently-appear, the supporting bar in: this instance occupies a reverse position from'that of Figs; 1 to 4, withithe heddle flange of the channel bar disposed'on the side remote from the observer (Figs. 5 and 6).

Herein-the slide bolt 2! is in the form. of a flat-plate supported in a slot' 28 formed in the 'two straps lil and I3 constituting the endmem- 'ber I2 (see Fig. *8). Its outer end is connected wi-ththe free end of a leaf spring29 anchored to the outer side of the end member I2v andacting tohold the slide with its inner-end entered between the'legs 20 and.2l of the bar. At its inner end, the slide carries a lug 30 disposed above. the channel leg 20 and projecting laterally-to one side face of the frame. Upon withdrawal of: the slide bolt against the action-of the spring into a position between the frameirnember and the end of the bar (this positionbeing shown in broken lines= in'Fig'. 8), the-bar is released for lateral shifting movement. After the bar has been shifted into the dotted line position a of Fig. 8, the slide is. released to the action of the spring, positioning the lug 30 for engagement with the anchoring leg 2| of thebarand-leavingthe:heddle flange 20 unobstructed for the removal or replacement of the .heddles.

The latch device I6 is preferablyconstructed so asto coact with the frame in the normal position'of thedevice so as to be heldby the frame U-Shaped portion 3| transversely of theyfralme into engagement with the end member.

The anchoring devices" by means of which the heddle supporting bars are supported intermediate their ends are preferably constructed to permit of adjustment to compensate for any bowing of the rails I 0 and H incident to the application of transverse forces thereto in the use of the frames. For this purpose, each-"of such an- For this purpose,

choring devices comprises a rod 32 extending through a hole 33 in the rail and having a bent inner end to form a hook 34 for attachment to the supporting bar. The outer end of the rod is threaded for the reception of a nut 35 clamped in 3 position in a" recess in the rail; by a plate 36, the latter engaging a collar 31 on the nut. By a 1'0- tational adjustment of the nut 35, the position of :ixthe rod 32 relative to the rail may be adjusted as may be desirable to compensate for any bowing of the rail.

, Thehhook-34-ofthe rod 32 is preferably se- 1 curedto the supporting bar in such a way as and thehook 34. has a fiat side which is held in position against said surface by a lug formed integraliwith the flange 39 and curled or looped around the rod, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The lugs :40 arerelatively short so that'withiione .end of the heddle supporting bar shiftedqlaterally ,clearofwtheend member l2, the bar, need'be moved longitudinally only a short distance tOLdiS' engage it: from the hooks-34.

In view of the fact that the upper; heddle supporting-bar hfiSfllfiS' channel =opening upwardly, itis desirable that provision-bemade for theremoval of lint which may be deposited in the chan- .nel.- For this purpose, a series of slots 4i may be provided along thechannel near the bottom thereof, such slots being, in the present instance, formedin the anchoring leg 2l thereof.

It will be seen that through the provision'of latch-devices lfiror I5, I have provided for the mounting of the heddle supporting bars so as to facilitate placement of the heddles inthe-frame .of'.their removal therefrom.- In each instance, the latch devices are operative not only to hold :the bars in their normal or operative relation' to the frame but also to hold them finmly against the normal resiliency of the bars, in position to permitof eas handling of the-heddles.

In the embodiment-shown -in Figs. l to 4,-the latch device is manipulated (to release the bar) first into aposition; to (permit lateral shifting of the bar in one direction, to the position shown at a in Fig. 4, the-detent element 23 being manually held in alinement )Withthe open; ended slot;.25 duringsuch movement. :Secondly; the spring is compressed against the end member 12 and into positionbetween this memberand the end ofthe bar, whereupon the latter may be swung to the vopposite or b position. Finally,-the latch is released so that the latch elementZG movesinto position to engagewith the anchoring leg;2| of the bar, leaving the opposite'orv heddle supporting =leg-unobstructed for the. sliding movement of the heddles.

' In the ;case of the embodiment shown 'in' Figs. 5 to 8, the. slide bolt is shifted against-theaction of the leaf spring-29 from the normal or operative position shown in'Fig. 6 to a withdrawn position inawhich' the bolt isremoved entirely from between the two legs of the channel shaped bar. 'In this instance, withdrawal of the slide bolt releases the:bar for movement directly into its disengaged or heddle loading and unloadingposition. Upon movement into suchposition the slide bolt is-released to the'action of the spring-29,- thereby carrying thelug 30 into position-against the anchoring leg-2| of thebar.

The means for supporting the heddle bars in the frame, including the anchoring devices I1,

age-45307 divisional application, Serial No. 591 ,008, filed April'30, 1945. I l r .Thisapplication is a-continuation of'myhcopending pplication SeriallNo. '514,313, fl1ed December 15, 1943, now abandoned. 1

Iclaimasmyinvention: I m i '1. In a supporting framefor heddles having end hooks, the combination of a side rail and an end member, a heddle supporting bar extending parallel to said rail, said bar being of channel cross sectionand comprising an anchoring leg connected to said rail and a heddle leg forming a flange having a free edge for engagement by'the heddle hooks, and a latch device mounted-'on the endmember and having a detent element normally engaging between the legs of the channel shaped bar to hold the bar against lateral movement relative to the frame and a latch element'engageable with the anchoring leg-of the bar to hold it in laterally shifted position relative totheframe.

' 2. In a supporting frame-for heddles having 'end hooks, the combination of a side rail and an end member, a heddle supporting bar extending parallel to said rail, saidbar being of channel cross section and comprising an anchoring'leg connected-to said rail and a heddle legform'ing a flange havinga free edge for engagement by the heddle hooks, and a latch device mounted on the end member and having alatch'element engageable with the anchoring leg of the bar-to hold it in laterally shifted position relative to the frame.

- 3. A frame for supporting heddles having reversely bent end hooks, comprising, incombination, top and bottom rails, end members connecting said rails, a pair of heddle supporting bars connected intermediate their ends with the top and bottom rails respectively, each of said bars being channel shaped in cross section-with 'one leg of the channel forming a supporting flange for engagement by. one of said hooks, and a latch device releasably securing one'end of each of-said bars to an end member, each of said latch devices comprising a leaf spring secured to the end member and having at its free end a detent disposed in .the'channel'forme'd in partby the flange, said bar having a slot spaced a short distance from its end adapted to receive said detent to permit lateral shifting of'tl'ie bar, and the bottom of the channel being notched to permit movement of said detent into position at one side of said slot whereby to hold the bar against movement relative to the frame.

4. In a supporting frame for heddles having reverselybent end hooks, the combination of a side rail and an end membena heddle supporting bar extending parallel to said rail, said barbeing of channel shape in cross section and having an anchoringzleg connected-to said, rail at a-point spaced from said end member and an opposed leg forming a flange for engagement by the heddle hooks, a leaf spring securedto the end member and having at its free end a detent disposed in said channel to hold the end of the bar against lateral shifting movement relative to the end member, said channel bar having a notch in the bottom of the channel to permit movement of the detent into holding relation to the channel.

5. In a supporting frame for heddles having end hooks, the combination of a side rail and an end member, a heddle supporting bar extending parallel to said bar with one endspaced a short distance from the end member, said bar being of channel shape and com-prising an anchoring elemen legiconnectedto said rail ata point spaced-from saidend memben and a heddle supporting leg havingafree edgelfor engagement "by the heddle hooks, a leaf spring attached-to said end memher, a detent element onflthe free end-of said spring'engageable in the channel .ofthe bar to hold:the latter in normal position, said bar hav ing a notch in the bottom'of. said-channel permitting movement of the detent into and out: of holding relation to the bar, and alatch element on thefree end of said spring, said detent element being-movable into position between the bar and the'end member to permit movement of thebar into a laterally shifted position, and saidlatch element=being engageable with the bar in such laterally 'shiftedposition to hold it in such'posi tion.-F

6. Ina supporting frame for heddles-having end hooks, the combination of. a side rail and an end member, a heddle supporting bar extending parallel to said=rail with one end of the bar spaced a short distance fromtheendgmember, said bar being of channel shape and comprising an anchoring'leg connected to said rail-and-a heddle supporting leg having a free; edge for engagement. by the heddle .hooks, a leaf spring attached to'said endmember, a latch elementgon the free end of said; spring .engageable with the supportinglegof the bar at one end .thereof .to hold the'latter out of, the. plane of the frame, said spring being movablecintotposition between the bar andthe end member to permit the bar to move into a normal position relative to the frame, anda detent element also carriedzb-y said spring and engageable' in the channelv in, the: normal position of the bar to hold it in suchzposition, said barhavinganopen ended slot spaced fromthe endof the-.baradapted for, the reception of the detent element when -the latter ..is moved to. a release position in alinement with the slot whereby 'to permit movement of the bar into normal position relative to the frame and said bar further having a notch at the bottom of said 'side rail ;and,an end member, a heddle supporting bar extending parallel to said mil with one end of the barspaceda short distance from the ;end member, vsaid bar,.being of. channel shape and comprising ananchoring legconnectedto said rail,.and a-heddle supporting leg having a freeedge for engagement by the heddle hooks, a .leaf springattached to said end member, a detent element on the free end of said spring .engageable betweenthe legs of--.th.e bar torh old .the latter .in; normal position in said frame, ,said ,spring being movable into .positionto carry said detent element clear of the end of the bar. whereby to permit movementofthe bar into a laterally shifted position relative to the frame, and alatch "onsaidispring engageabie with the anchoring leg of said bar in the shifted position of the latter to hold it in such position.

8. In a frame for supporting heddles having reversely bent end hooks, the combination, of a side rail and an end member, a heddle supporting bar extending parallel to said rail and having an elongated edge portion adapted forengagement by the heddle hooks and a supporting portion spaced laterally from said edge portion, means for supporting said bar from said side rail including an anchoring device carried by the "said spring.

side i rail and attached to 1 the r supporting portion of' the-bar at a pointispaced'from one end OflthC bar adistan'ce suflicient to permit :free lateral swinging movement ofsuchxand relative to the -mally interenga-ging "with .c-the: bar to hold:* the elementwhenfthe.latter: is iin its normal position end member, and alatch device carried by said 5 a point spacedfrom the :end of the-bar and a heddle flange forengagement by the heddle hooks, a bolt slidable in the end member and into and out of position between the: legs of said bar, and a transversely extending latch element on said bolt engageable' with'said anchoring leg :of "the bar to hold the latter. in deflected positionrelative 'to'the frame.

10$ In a supporting frame for h'eddles having reversely bent end hooks, the 'combination 'of a side r'ail and an end member, a heddlesupport- "-ing bar extending parallel to s'aidraiL: said .bar

beingof channel shape in oross'sec-tion and-comprising an anchoring leg connected to said rail at a point spaced from'the end of the bar and a heddle flange for engagement by the heddle hooks, and a'latch devicecomprising a. leaf spring attached'to the end member and a bolt on the free end of "the spring 'slidably" mounted in the end member and normally held by the spring in position between thelegs of-the channel bar, said leaf spring being yielda ble transversely of the planeof the frame and having a part'engageable with the end member operative tohold the latch device in normal position relative to the end member.

' 11. In a frame for supporting heddles' having end hooksjthe'combination of a side railand an end member, a heddle supporting bar supported intermediate its ends from and in parallel relation to said rail with one end of'the 'bar terminating short of the end member, and a latch device mounted on the end member and having a disengageable connection with said ban-said device comprising a leaf-spring secured at one end 'tothe end member andhaving its free end a detent element normallyinterengaging with the heddle supporting bar to hold the latter against lateral deflection, said bar having a slot permitting passage of'said detent element onlyupon movement o'fthe elementfrom its-saidnormal position into registry with the slot as permitted by l 12. In a heddle supporting frame, the combination "of a side rail, an end-member, a heddle supporting bar supported intermediate its ends fromand in parallel relation to said rail-with one end of the bar terminating short of the'end memher, and alatch device yieldably, mounted on-the .end member and having aLdetent element norand permitting passage of the-element whennthe latter is shifted into registry. with the slot whereby to permit disengagement of the bar from said latch device. a i j 13.=1A heddle supporting frame comprising a side rail, an'endmember, a heddle supporting bar supportedintermediate its ends fromand parallel. with said rail with 'oneyend'of the bartermin'ating short of the end member, and a-latch idevice yieldably mounted on the end member and having a detent-element normally positioned 'adjacent' the inner side of said end member, said bar and detent element having coacting parts engageable in the normal position of the detentpelement to :preventlateral deflection of the bar: in said frame, and said bar further having'a slot disposed in ofiset relation to the detent element when the latter is in its normal position and permitting passage of the detent element when the latter is :shifted into registry with the slot whereby-to permit disengagement of the bar from'the latch de'vicelaterally of the frame. i V

" 14: In a heddle supportingframahaving a side'rail and an end member, a heddle'supporting barsup ported intermediate its ends from. and in parallel relationto said rail with one end of the .bar terminating short of the endmember and freelyswingable relative thereto, and latch means for disengageably holding said bar either in norm'alposition relative to said end member. or in laterally offset relation thereto, said latch means comprising 'two' latch elements 'one yieldably mounted on the end member and shiftable into a predeterminedreleas'ing position andtheother forming apart of said bar, said latch elements respectively providing laterally spaced abutments and a detent normally engaging betweensaid abutments to hold the'end'of thebar against lateral swinging movement in eitherv direction, and one ofsaid latch elements beingslotted to permit disengagement therefrom ofi the"other =latch'element when'the'element carried'by the :end member occupies its said releasing position. RUSS-ELL P. DRAKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references areof record in the file of this patent: I

UNITED STATES PATE NTS 

